50-Tonne Pieces Used To Replace 150-Year-Old Existing Structures
UK-based heavy transport specialist Collett has delivered a pair of bridge sections measuring 25 and 21 metres for the iconic North Yorkshire Moors Railway in northeast England.
The two sections were needed to carry the railway line over the Eller Beck tributary, replacing existing structures that were more than 150 years old. The upgrade was part of the Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey project, a £10 million overhaul of the railway’s carriages and infrastructure.
Collett first shipped the 50-tonne pieces as smaller components from a manufacturing base in North Yorkshire to a coating facility in Sheffield. Once assembled, Collett loaded the bridges to extendable rear steer flatbed trailers and transported them 200 miles back to North Yorkshire to the Goathland construction site.
Contractor VolkerLaser meanwhile was charged with dismantling and removing the obsolete bridge sections, and preparing the site for the installation of the new structures.
“Due to the length of the cargoes, our team had to perform intricate manoeuvres, first on exiting the coating facility, and again on arrival at the Goathland delivery site due to the narrow rural access,” Collett said.
The 18-mile-long North Yorkshire Moors Railway opened in 1836 as an inland trade route from seaport Whitby. The steam railway is one of the UK’s most popular heritage attractions.
Collett will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Europe 2022, taking place on 17-19 May in Rotterdam.
Watch a video of the move here:
